New Haven, Connecticut -Sunday, November 24, 2019: Claire Kehley of Lauralton Hall swims to victory in the third heat of the 500 Yard Freestyle during the CIAC State Open Girls Swimming Championship Sunday at Yale University in New Haven.
Peter Hvizdak, New Haven Register / Hearst Connecticut Media
Maddie Bergin, North Haven
Bergin, a senior, finished third in the 50-yard freestyle at the 2019 State Open (23.90 seconds) and took fourth in the 100 freestyle (52.31). Bergin won both the Class M 50 (24.01) and 100 freestyle (52.52).
An all-state, All-SCC and GameTimeCT All-State selection last fall, she anchored North Haven’s Class M championship 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. Bergin earned Most Outstanding Performer honors at the 2019 SCC Championships.
Nora Bergstrom, Cheshire
A senior, Bergstrom, took third in the 500-yard freestyle (5:02.55) and was fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:53.99) at the State Open. Bergstrom finished third in both the Class LL 200 freestyle (1:54.01) and the 500 freestyle (5:05.47). Bergstrom was an all-state, All-SCC, GameTimeCT All-State selection in 2019.
Annie Bingle, Greenwich
A two-time NISCA All-America diver, Bingle joins the Cardinals, after starring at Greenwich Academy. The junior excelled on the 1-meter diving board as a sophomore, placing second at the 2020 NEPSAC Championships (All-America total of 446 points).
Bingle also finished second last season at the FAA Championships (445.65).
Samantha Ennis, Greenwich
Ennis was third in the 100-yard backstroke (State Open, 56.74 seconds) in 2019. Also at the State Open and Class LL Championships, Ennis led off Greenwich’s winning 200 medley relay team. A senior, Ennis, who earned All-FCIAC and all-state and GameTimeCT All-State honors (2019), was the runner-up in the 100 backstroke (Class LL finals, 56.26).
Natalia Ferranto, Darien
Ferranto helped key Darien to the Class L and FCIAC team championships. A sophomore, Ferranto claimed the first-place medal in the 50-yard freestyle (Class L finals, 24.08). Ferranto also ignited Darien’s State Open championship and All-America 200-freestyle relay team (1:37.76). Ferranto finished fifth in the 50 freestyle (State Open, 24.27).
Charlotte Frank, New Canaan
Frank, a senior, placed fifth in diving (State Open, 2019, all-state honors), with 461.90 points. She captured the Class L title (425.05 points) and was the FCIAC runner-up (432.10).
Isabella Gary, Weston
Gary’s junior season last fall featured first-place finishes in the Class S 200 individual medley (2:07.28) and the 100 breaststroke (1:04.52).
Gary (All-SWC, all-state, GameTimeCT, All-State recipient) was third at the State Open in the 200 IM (2:05.94) and fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.07).
Rylie Giles, Ridgefield
Giles recorded two second-place finishes at the State Open last season (200 freestyle, 1:53.40, 500 freestyle, 5:02.34). A senior, Giles was also second in Class LL in the 200 freestyle (1:53.15) and 500 (4:58.80).
Giles (All-FCIAC, all-state, GameTimeCT, All-State selection in 2019) will swim at Bucknell University next year. She was the 2019 FCIAC champion in the 100 freestyle and 500 freestyle.
Nicole Hahn, East Lyme
Hahn, a junior, flourished in the 100 breaststroke (sixth at State Open, 1:06.35, second at Class M finals, 1:05.68) and 200 individual medley (third at Class M Championships, 2:09.89).
She competed on East Lyme’s runner-up 200-medley relay squad (Class M).
Maddie Haley, New Canaan
Haley, a senior, was second at the State Open in the 100 backstroke (56.19).
At the Class M finals, she won the 100 backstroke (56.02). Haley (GameTimeCT, all-state, All-FCIAC honoree) placed second in the backstroke at FCIAC’s (56.31).
Claire Kehley, Lauralton Hall
Kehley placed third in the State Open’s 200 freestyle (1:53.93) and was fourth in the 500 freestyle (5:06.20). Kehley, a junior, (all-state, GameTime, All-State selection) won both the 2019 Class M 200 freestyle (1:54.64) and the 500 freestyle (5:10.06). She also anchored the Class M championship 200 relay.
Avery Kudlac, Glastonbury
Kudlac enters her senior season off a junior campaign in which she finished sixth in the 100 butterfly (State Open, 57.90) and 10th in the backstroke (Open, 58.42). She took fourth and seventh in the butterfly (57.46, Class LL) and backstroke (58.92), respectively.
Kendall Luecke, Darien
A senior, Luecke anchored Darien’s All-America 200-yard freestyle relay team, which captured the State Open in 1:36.72. The all-state, All-FCIAC performer anchored the team’s winning Class L 200 freestyle relay (1:37.76). She won the Class L 200 freestyle title and was part of Darien’s FCIAC championship 200 freestyle relay.
Nicole Linell, Weston
Linell tied for fourth with teammate Isabella Gary in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.07, 2019 State Open). She placed second in the breaststroke (Class S, 1:05.65) and swam on Weston’s winning 200 medley relay team.
Meghan Lynch, Greenwich
The Stanford University-bound Lynch is a three-time All-American in the 200-yard individual medley. She captured the gold medal in the 200 IM as a junior last season (Class LL) in an All-America/state record time of 1:59.13. Lynch also won the race at the State Open (1:59.50) and placed second in the 100 breaststroke at the LL meet (1:02.57) and Open (1:02.44).
A holder of 68 Connecticut Swimming Age Group records, Lynch also earned All-America accolades in the 100 freestyle (50.79) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.57, second State Open, Class LL). Lynch (all-state, All-FCIAC, GameTimeCT.com All-State Team/Swimmer of the Year 2018), also powered the Cardinals’ 2019 State Open champion 400 freestyle and 200 medley relays.
Sophie Murphy, Cheshire
Murphy’s junior season was highlighted by victories in the 50 freestyle (State Open, 23.68) and 100 freestyle (51.08, Open). She anchored the Rams’ 400 freestyle relay and 200 freestyle relay (State Open), which placed second and third, respectively.
Murphy captured Class LL 50 freestyle title (23.88), the 100 freestyle (51.11) and was on the Rams’ winning 400 freestyle relay. She was an All-SCC, all-state and GameTimeCT 2019 Swimmer of the Year recipient.
Emma Nordquist, Hall
A senior, Nordquist notched a sixth-place finish in the 200 freestyle (State Open, 1:54.56), then was ninth in the 500 freestyle (5:09.56). The all-state swimmer was fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:55.38) and fifth in the 500 freestyle race (Class LL Championships).
Katherine O’Connor, Amity
O’Connor took third in the 100 butterfly (56.73) at last season’s State Open. She was 10th in the 50 freestyle (24.43).
In Class LL, O’Connor (all-state, All-SCC, GameTimeCT All-State) finished third in the 100 butterfly (57.45) and was fourth in the 50 freestyle (24.53).
Katrine O’Leary, Seymour
O’Leary’s all-state freshman season featured a fourth-place finish in the 50 freestyle (State Open, 24.12) and a fifth-place effort in the 100 freestyle (Open, 52.71). She led off the team’s 400 freestyle relay, which placed eighth. O’Leary was the Class S 50 (24.18) and 100 champion (52.95).
Alexa Pappas, Weston
Pappas rejoins the team for her senior year, after swimming for her club squad last season. In 2018, Pappas was the State Open’s 100 backstroke champion and placed third in the 100 freestyle. She also was part of the championship 200 medley relay team.
Adriana Mieses-Sanchez, Windsor
A junior diver, Mieses-Sanchez finished fourth in Class L as a sophomore (370.70). At the State Open, she posted a seventh-place finish, amassing 448.62 points over 11 dives.
Hannah Seward, Ridgefield
The Norwestern University-bound Seward posted first-place finishes in the 100 butterfly at the 2019 Class LL and State Open Championships, respectively (55.14, 55.30). Seward (All-FCIAC, all-state, GameTimeCT All-State recipient) placed third in the 100 freestyle at the Open (52.26) and was second in Class LL (51.86). She earned the FCIAC butterfly and 50 freestyle titles.
Elizabeth Stoelzel, Masuk
Stoelzel’s junior year was highlighted by a fifth-place finish in the State Open’s 50 freestyle (24.27). In the Class M 50 freestyle, Stoelzel was second (24.32). She was also third in the Class M 100 backstroke and was on the second-place 200 freestyle relay.
Sophia Velleco, Seymour
Velleco led Seymour in the 200 freestyle as a freshman last season, placing fifth (State Open, 1:54.39). Velleco swam the 400 freestyle relay (eighth State Open) and was the runner-up in the 50 freestyle (1:54.64) at the Class S finals, which saw her swim on the victorious 400 freestyle squad.
Lauren Walsh, Trumbull
A junior, Walsh earned All-America honors in the 200-yard individual medley (2:01.82), the 100 breaststroke (1:01.96) and the 100 butterfly (:55.45). She won the breaststroke at the State Open (1:01.96) and was second in the 200 IM (2:02.42). Walsh (all-state, All-FCIAC, GameTimeCT All-State selection) won the 2019 Class LL breaststroke (1:02.40) and was second in the 200 IM (2:01.82). She competed on the second-place 200 medley relay team (State Open).
